WITH the new year upon us, here is at look at some developments we can expect to take shape during 2019, as the borough looks to continue its economic regeneration.
M6Major.Com at Florida Farm, Haydock
After a major planning battle, Bericote Properties won permission in 2017 to create two warehouses on green belt land at Florida Farm in Haydock.
Work is ongoing at the site, with it reported earlier this month that a "multi-billion pound" US investment company has been secured to help fund the M6 Major scheme at the Haydock site.
Rainhill Hall into a wedding venue and hotel
Liverpool-based Signature Living are behind plans to create a wedding venue and hotel at the former Loyola Hall, also known as Rainhill Hall.
Uncertainty had surrounded the venue’s future after it was closed by the Jesuits, who purchased the listed building in 1823.
The company, owned by hotelier Lawrence Kenwright, which aims to give the hall a new lease of life as a prestigious wedding and events venue, also plans to bring the woodland alive with “fairytale-style” treehouses.
West Point - Superbowl UK
The long-awaited West Point development is coming together, with the Superbowl UK entertainment complex set for launch this March.
The 14 lane 10-pin bowling venue, at the former St Thomas Square site, off St Helens Linkway, is to be the next part of the leisure and retail complex to open.
Costa, Frankie and benny’s and Aldi are already on site.
Atlas Street retirement apartments complex
State-of-the-art retirement apartments are taking shape at Atlas Street in Fingerpost.
The regeneration of the old engineering works by the Torus group to make way for the 130 apartment complex is rapidly taking shape, with the giant steel superstructure is now clearly visible from the road.
Mere Grange
Development is ongoing at the industrial site at Mere Grange after the completion of the £7m first phase.
The development is being delivered by Network Space in partnership with Homes England, St Helens Council and the Liverpool City Region Combined Regional Authority.
Mere Grange, which is being built by Caddick Construction, sits adjacent to the St Helens Linkway and is within a five-minute drive of Junction 7 of the M62 facilitating easy access to the M6 and Manchester and Liverpool, and within close reach of St Helens town centre.
Planning applications currently being considered include for 82 homes and for a 21,000 square-feet business site as part of the plans for the wider Mere Grange site.
Claughton House
In St Helens town centre, a £2.3m transformation of Claughton House has been completed by Luxor Group.
The upper floors of the 16,000 sq. ft. building, now known as Nicholson House, have been converted into 18 residential units made up of three studios, nine one-bedroom and six two-bedroom apartments.
A selection of the apartments on the top floor include balcony areas which overlook the town centre.
The site of the mixed-use development includes ground floor commercial units which remain unaffected by the residential development.
Meanwhile, Nicholson Lofts, the former Tyrer’s building on Bridge Street is to house a commercial premises on its ground floor.